England skipper Alastair Cook was a relieved man after the fourth one-dayer against India ended in a tie, allowing his side to clinch the five-match series by taking an unassailable 2-0 lead.
"We ended up having to bat for the weather and with Duckworth-Lewis ball by ball, it was an extremely tough situation for both the sides. I think it probably was a fair result," said Cook.
"The way Ravi (Bopara), Tim Bresnan and Graeme Swann held their nerves and got us almost over the line, and to win the series because of it, makes us delighted."
'If we are all being honest we would have wanted the rains'
Image: Alastair CookEngland were 270 for eight when the third and final rain intervention forced the match to end in a tie under the Duckworth-Lewis rule.
"It's human. When you're ahead of the game and get to go off, you're obviously going to be happier than the other team.
"It was quite clear when we came off the first time we wanted to go back because we were behind.
"When we came off second time, when we were ahead, if we are all being honest we would have quite liked it to have rained for another hour and we wouldn't have had the last few overs," he said.
'I took on the shot, and it didn't come off'
Image: Ravi BoparaBopara, who was caught on the edge of the midwicket fence by Ravindra Jadeja, though was disappointed with the result.
"It's extremely disappointing that we didn't end up winning. I never quite knew when to accelerate with the weather and big black clouds lurking round the back there.
"But after Swanny got out, I wasn't thinking of just knocking it about in case we left too much for ourselves so I took on the shot, and it didn't come off.
"The fielder looked very casual at one stage and I thought 'well it's gone over him then'. But he just back-tracked and when it was about 15 yards away from him, I knew he's going to get a hand to this, so let's hope he puts it down," Bopara said after his knock of 96.
'Broad was padded up, ready to go'
Image: Alastair Cook and Andy FlowerThe batsman was more disappointed that he couldn't win the game for England than missing out on his maiden ODI century.
"I'm just down that I didn't finish the game. I want to win games for England, not tie games for England." Stuart Broad was injured while bowling the final over and it was later learnt that he had strained the upper tricep of his bowling arm. But the bowler was padded up to bat if required.
"We don't know how bad is the injury. He will go for a scan tonight or tomorrow and we'll see how it settles down over the next 24-48 hours.
"He was padded up, ready to go. I'm not sure how effective he would have been
Comment
article